Blanket stretcher



Dec. 4 1923.

A. sc uMAcfiER BLANKET STRETCHER Filed March 21 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WWmym:

Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,372

- A. SCHUMACHER BLANKET STRETGHER Filed March 21 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 4, 1923.

A. SCHUMACHER BLANKET STRETCIIER Filed March 21, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 5 E /3 za f Wfiesses: 'yfffi, fl

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

ABRAHAM SCHUMACHER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BLANKET STRETCHER.

Application filed March 21, 1923. Serial No. 626,679.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM SCHU- MAOHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blanket Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a stretcher that is primarily, although not specifically adapted for the stretching of blankets, the device being characterized by the fact that it may be advantageously employed for stretching blankets or other articles of varying sizes.

A further purpose of this invention is the provision of such a blanket stretcher that embraces the desired features of simplicity, durability, andefliciency, the device comprising relatively few parts, and these correlated in such a manner as to reduce the liability of derangement to a minimum.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing inthe construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved blanket stretcher.

Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal cross sectional views, upon the lines 22 and 3-3, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section of one side of the stretcher.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the opposite side of the device.

Figure 6 is a detail line 6-6 of Figure 1.

. Figure 7 is a cross section of a portion of the device.

Figure 8 is a detail cross section of one of the elements comprised in the invention,

. and

Figure 9 is a perspective of a specific form of bolt member, also. comprised in my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detaiL'my device comprises a frame designated generally by the numeral 5. This frame comprises end bars 6 and 7, an upper connecting cross section upon the bar 8, and a lower connecting bar 9, each of these bars are of U channel iron constructlon, it being well to note that the end bar 7 has its outer edge rounded, as more clearly shown in the sectional view, Figure 3.

Secured to the lower ends of the end bars 6 and 7, and extending outwardly from each side thereof are supporting legs 10, the same carrying rollers 11, for facilitating the movement of the stretcher from place to place. Upon the upper side of the top cross bar 8 and at opposite edges are longitudinally extending guide bars for purposes hereinafter described, these guide bars con sisting of the well known L irons. l/Vithin each of the end bars 6 and 7 is a pair of spaced inwardly extending arms 13, the outer ends thereof being formed with collars 1 1. Between each pair of arms 13, and freely rotatable within the said collars 14 are rods 15, each of the same being formed with spiral grooves 16.

Journaled at one end within a bearing 17, formed upon the lowermost arm 13 within the end bar 6 and at its opposite end within a bearing 18 formed upon an arm 19, within the said end bar and at a point distant from the arm 13 is a shaft 20. The last mentioned arm 19 has one end bent upwardly and is provided with a bearing 21, and journaled at one end within this bearing is a stub shaft 22, this shaft extending outwardly of the frame bar 6, and being provided with an operating handle 23. Keyed upon the said stub shaft 22 is a bevelled gear 24, in mesh with a bevelled gear 25, upon the adjacent end of said shaft 20. I

Journaled within bearing brackets 26 within the lower frame bar 9 is a shaft 27, one end of the same having keyed thereto a bevelled gear 28, in intermesh with a bevelled gear 29 upon the lower end of said shaft 20. Adjacent the opposite ends of the shaft 27 and keyed thereon are other bevelled gears 30, each of which intermesh with a bevelled gear 31 upon the lower ends of the before mentioned spirally grooved rods 15. i

Extending lengthwise of the frame 5 is a U bar 32, the opposite ends of the web portion thereof being channeled or cut away at 33. Within these channeled ends of the said bar 32 are blocks 35, through which extend spirally grooved rods 15, the ends of these which engage within the spiral throu h the instrumentality of the operating handle 23, the said bar 32 is .moved upvwardly and, downwardly within the frame for purposes hereinafter described. Upon opposite sides of the frame 5 areflat-like bars39, and secured to the opposite ends of these bars are roller carrying. plates 40,, each.

i of the said plates carrying a pair of grooved 8, and the said strips,;43,

single length. of

,heavyvfabric 44, the same upon the said. strips 43Jby .strips 45 riveted or otherwise secured to the rollers 41, it being noted from a considera tion ofFigure 6 that the upper rollers are movable upon the said guide bars 12 of the upper frame bar 8, while the rollersupon the lower ends of said flat-like bars 39 are movable upon similar guide bars 12, upon the bottom side of said lowerframe bar 9.

Each of the said roller carrying plates 40 is formed with a screw threaded opening, -within which is a screw threaded bolt 41,

formed with a wing nut 42, and adapted for engagement with the adjacent guide bar. 12

or 12 for effectively locking the said flat-. like bars 9 ,against movement in a longit-ua dinal direction.

Upon opposite sides of the top frame bar movable U barv32, and surrounding the endframe bar '7 are metal Figure 7 it being of course obvious that these saidmetal strips are each of material. Upon the outer faces of these metal strips are coverings of being, retained L-shaped. metal strips 43 as at 46. Carried bythese fabric coverings 44 and projecting outwardly qtherefrom arethe usual needle points 47, to

which are secured the edges of the blankets gor. other articles to be stretched.

Upon the front faces of the said flat-like bars39 are similar canvas strips, which also I carryfneedle points 48 these canvasflstrips being secured to the flat-like. bars through the medium of similar fastening strips 49.

In view ,of the above description, it is believed by .me' that theadvantages and opera- 1 t on of .-a.c'lev.1cezof this character will be ;readily appreciatedebyt those skilled in the art, and although I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless 'tobe under- ,stood that minor changes may be made therein, without departing from the spirit a d s ope of the invention, asclaimed. Having thusdescribed my invention,what

engaging means from end to end' thereof,

and means including intergeared shafts carried by and mounted within theend and bottom frame members and operatively connected to the ends of the horizontal cross bar for raising and lowering the latter.

'2. A curtain stretcher including'a rectangular portable frame composed of rigidly connected top, bottom and end members, said end and bottom frame members being of channel form with inwardly extending flanges, a horizontal cross bar movable vertically between said end frame members, strips extending around one of the end frame members and respectively secured on both sides of the top: frame member and the horizontal cross bar, said strips having fabric engaging means from end to end thereof, and means including intergeared shafts carried by and mounted within the end: and bottom frame members and operatively connected to the ends of the horizontal cross bar for raising and lOWBIillgtl'lG latter,pairs of spaced parallel'guide bars-fixedon the upper wall of the top frame member and-on the bottom wall of the bottom frame member, a pair of opposed verticalcross bars-disposed outwardly of the opposite sides cfthe top and bottom frame members and-the horizontal cross bar and provided withfabric engaging means, grooved rollers on the ends of said vertical cross bars and riding on the outer edges of said guide bars, and means carried by the ends of the vertical cross bars and engageable with said guide bars to releasably hold the vertical cross bars against movement.

8. A curtain stretcher including a-rectan- .gular portable frame composed of -;rigidly ed to the ends of the horizontal cross bar for raising and lowering the latter, said last named means further embodying nut members carried by the ends of the horizontal cross bar and vertical spirally grooved shafts operatively geared to the one of said intergeared shafts which is disposed within the bottom fr me member, said spirally grooved shafts extending through said nut members and mounted on the side frame members inwardly of the latter.

4. A curtain stretcher including a rectan gular portable frame composed of rigidly connected top, bottom and end members, said end and bottom frame members being of channel form with inwardly extending flanges, a horizontal cross bar movable vertically between said end frame members, strips extending around one of the end frame members and respectively secured on both sides of the top frame member and the horizontal bar, said strips having fabric engaging means from end to end thereof, and

means including in-tergeared shafts carried by and mounted within the end and bottom frame members and operatively connected to the ends of the horizontal cross bar for raising and lowering the latter, said last named means further embodying nut members carried by the ends of the horizontal cross bar and vertical spirally grooved shafts operatively geared to the one of said intergeared shafts which is disposed within the bottom frame member, said spirally grooved shafts, and extending through said nut members and mounted on the side frame members inwardly of the latter, the ends of the web of the horizontal cross bar being cut away to leave the ends of the flanges thereof projecting, and said nut members having channeled ends in which said projecting flange ends of the horizontal cross-bar are engaged.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

A. SCHUMACHER. 

